Guide to Hunting & Trapping in Maryland

Public Hunting on Chesapeake Forest Lands

The Chesapeake Forest Lands are most of the former land holdings of the Chesapeake Forest Products Company; however, they also include two long held DNR properties, Seth and Wicomico Demonstration Forests, plus several new land acquisitions. Currently Chesapeake Forest is comprised of 248 separate parcels totaling more than 66,712 acres in the lower six counties of the Eastern Shore. Approximately 32,000 acres is now open to public hunting. The other portion of the Forest Lands is under a leased hunting program.

See the Chesapeake Forest website at: http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/forests/chesapeakeforestlands.html for information concerning the leased hunting program and for maps of the public hunting areas.

Furbearers, forest game, upland game, and waterfowl may be hunted on these properties where found. A permit is required for trapping. A portion of the Aughty Naughty Complex in Wicomico County has a hunting area for the physically disabled. Contact the Chesapeake Forest Office for information on other possible hunting opportunities for the physically disabled. Office address: 6572 Snow Hill Rd., Snow Hill, MD 21863; 410-632-3732; located next to the fire tower off of Snow Hill Rd. (Rt. 12).

Note: The public should take special note of the following two regulations pertaining to hunting on Chesapeake Forest Lands:

  • An individual may not hunt within 150 yards of an occupied structure or camp.
  • An individual may not hunt within 150 feet of any exterior Chesapeake Forest Lands boundary, nor shoot on, from or across any public road.
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    The following Chesapeake Forest Lands parcels are open to public hunting for the 2009-2010 seasons:

    Caroline

    Branch/Messenger Complex- 349 acres located off Houston Branch Road adjacent to Idylwild WMA.
    Gordy Complex- 456 acres located off Line and Noble Road.
    Seipp Complex- 108 acres located off Bloomery Road adjacent to Idylwild WMA.

    Dorchester

    Bell Estate Complex- 445 acres located off the south side of Centennial Road.
    Hornicke/Oliphant Complex- 370 acres located off Vienna - Henrys Crossroads Road near LeCompte WMA.
    Insley Complex- 445 acres located off Beach Ground Road.
    Lewis Complex- 1,594 acres located off Henrys Crossroads and Griffith’s Neck Road adjacent to Fishing Bay WMA.
    Marshy Hope Complex- 3,408 acres located along Marshy Hope Creek off N. Tara, Harrison Ferry, Wesley, and Puckham Roads.
    South Baumgardner Complex- 210 acres located off Elliotts Island Road adjacent to Fishing Bay WMA.

    Somerset

    E. Mace Smith Complex- 1,700 acres located off Deal Island and Pine Pole Road.
    Haislip/Marumsco Complex- 1,480 acres located off Back Shelltown Road.
    Oriole Complex- 568 acres located off the west side of Oriole Back Road adjacent to Deal Island WMA.
    Peters/McAllen Complex- 917 acres located off Loretto Station Road.
    Wells Complex- 1,932 acres located off Mitchell Road and Route 13 near Costen Station Road adjacent to Wellington WMA.

    Talbot

    Seth Demonstration Forest- 124 acres- Deer hunting with bow only; 410-632-3732

    Wicomico

    Athol Complex- 681 acres located off Athol Road.
    Aughty Naughty Complex- 1265 acres located off Snethen Church and Cross Roads.
    Brown Tract- 70 acres located off Cooper Mill Road.
    Fair Meadow- 368 acres located off Hickman Lane adjacent to Ellis Bay WMA.
    Greenhill Complex- 3,311 acres located west of Whitehaven Road.
    Louis-Horner Complex- 460 acres located off Wetipquin Road.
    Wicomico Demonstration Forest- 3,625 acres- Furbearers, forest game, upland game.

    Worcester

    Abe Hammond Complex- 145 acres located along Corker Creek adjacent to Pocomoke State Forest.
    Apgar Tract- 200 acres located off Sand Road adjacent to Pocomoke State Forest.
    Bethards Tract- 40 acres located off Old Furnace and Green Briar Swamp Road adjacent to Pocomoke State Forest.
    Buck Harbor Complex- 318 acres located off Stevens Road. This area is managed for handicap hunters who are restricted to a wheelchair. For more information contact the National Wild Turkey Federation at 410-546-9154.
    Cordery Complex- 625 acres located off Sturgis Road.
    Donnaway-Timmons Complex- 528 acres located off Sheppards Crossing Road.
    Dunn Swamp Complex- 1,154 acres located off Dunn Swamp Road.
    Johnson & Johnson Tract- 853 acres located off Corner House Road adjacent to Pocomoke State Forest.
    Priscilla Pusey Complex- 131 acres located between Stevens Road and Dividing Creek.
    Selby Complex- 551 acres located on the southeast side of Bird Hill Road.
    Tankard Farm Complex- 880 acres located off Whitesburg and Oak Hall, and Fleming Mill Roads adjacent to Pocomoke State Forest. This complex is comprised of three separate tracts they are the Creek, Chatham and Tankard Farm.
    Whitesburg Complex- 375 acres located off Whitesburg and Old Beech Road adjacent to Pocomoke State Forest.

    Waterfowl Hunting Opportunities

    Waterfowl hunting will be on a first come basis from the shoreline of the following areas:

    Dorchester County- the Insley Complex (1.2 miles of shoreline), the Lewis complex (4.3 miles of shoreline), and the Marshy Hope Complex (4.3 miles of shoreline);

    Wicomico county- Fair Meadow (1.8 miles of shoreline), the Greenhill Complex (.5 miles of shoreline), the Lewis-Horner Complex (.33 miles of shoreline), and the Ventor/Lathrop complex (1.4 miles of shoreline).

    For more information, maps, and updates on Chesapeake Forest Lands open to public hunting go to the web site: /forests/chesapeakeforestlands.html